As it happened: Brisbane on Tuesday, August 27

The Brisbane Metro’s wheels are one step closer to turning, with the first depot in Rochedale now complete and ready for the first two stages of metro services to commence on October 21.

Council officials said it took more than 400,000 man-hours of construction to convert the 10-hectare site into Australia’s largest electric bus depot, which includes 65 chargers and more than 2300 solar panels.

Civic cabinet chair for transport Ryan Murphy celebrated the latest metro milestone this morning, telling media that Brisbane City Council would continue to “invest in our public transport network for residents now and into the future”.

“The Schrinner Council is committed to reducing congestion and Brisbane Metro services will boost capacity by up to 30 million seats annually,” Murphy said.

The first routes of the Brisbane Metro were announced in July, with 10 electric two-carriage megabuses – each able to carry 170 passengers – pitched to begin on the bus route to the University of Queensland from Eight Mile Plains along the South East Busway in October.

Thanks for joining us today for the Brisbane Times blog. We’ll be back tomorrow with more news from around the city and further afield.

Here are some of today’s top stories:

Former CFMEU state secretary Michael Ravbar has labelled opposition to the union’s government-imposed administration “the biggest fight that we’ve ever had”, amid nationwide protests.

Thomas Hill has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for deliberately hitting and killing Tarragindi doctor Peter Dunne with his car, in what a judge described as a serious, violent act.

Dr Peter Dunne, who died from the injuries he suffered in an alleged hit and run in February.Credit: Facebook - PCRG

Two people have been charged with the murder of a 12-year-old girl who was found “extremely emaciated” at a Gold Coast home in 2022.

Oasis are expected to announce a reunion soon. Karl Quinn explains why “the most rock’n’roll band ever” still matters.

Adrian Portelli, dubbed “the Lambo Guy”, has demanded tougher laws for breaking and entering as he names and shames alleged intruders at his 57th floor luxury apartment.

A clip uploaded by Portelli to his Instragram account that purportedly shows intruders removing protective covers off his $3 million McLaren Senna GTR inside his luxury penthouse.

A woman has reportedly been stabbed at a Fortitude Valley apartment complex this afternoon.

Police declared a crime scene at Warry Street after they were called about 1.30pm following reports a woman had been stabbed.

The woman, in her 50s, had non-life-threatening injuries, police said. She was taken to the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital for treatment.

A man his 60s was speaking with police. Officers believed the man and woman were not known to each other.

Police urged anyone with information to come forward.

The Brisbane Metro’s wheels are one step closer to turning, with the first depot in Rochedale now complete and ready for the first two stages of metro services to commence on October 21.

Council officials said it took more than 400,000 man-hours of construction to convert the 10-hectare site into Australia’s largest electric bus depot, which includes 65 chargers and more than 2300 solar panels.

Civic cabinet chair for transport Ryan Murphy celebrated the latest metro milestone this morning, telling media that Brisbane City Council would continue to “invest in our public transport network for residents now and into the future”.

“The Schrinner Council is committed to reducing congestion and Brisbane Metro services will boost capacity by up to 30 million seats annually,” Murphy said.

The first routes of the Brisbane Metro were announced in July, with 10 electric two-carriage megabuses – each able to carry 170 passengers – pitched to begin on the bus route to the University of Queensland from Eight Mile Plains along the South East Busway in October.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton has hit back at Treasurer Jim Chalmers saying he is dangerous and divisive.

Speaking earlier today at a press conference in Brendale, Queensland, Dutton disagreed with being labelled as the most divisive leader of a major political party in Australia’s modern history.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Treasurer Jim Chalmers.Credit: Alex Ellinghausen

“Well, surely not, because there’s nothing that he [Chalmers] can point to – apart from the fact that he wants to talk about everything but his failure in the economy,” he said.

“If Australians were doing it so well, and the economy was running as great as Jim Chalmers claims it is, why is he dedicating his speech to me?

“It’s one thing to be carrying on like Jim Chalmers is, but his job is to try and address the cost of living crisis … I just don’t think the government has anything positive to talk about.”

RACQ is asking people visiting the Queen Street Mall to take a flower, give it to a man in their life and tell them how much they would be missed if they were gone.

The RACQ’s road safety campaign in the Queen Street Mall.Credit: RACQ

In the past five years, 1032 males were killed in crashes on Queensland roads, compared with 312 females.

The campaign for Road Safety Week features one of the club’s vintage patrol cars, surrounded by 1032 flowers, next to a sign reading, “the first time most men receive flowers is at their funeral”.

Alcohol and drugs played a role in 439 male deaths, compared with 69 female deaths.

During today’s rally, former Queensland CFMEU secretary Michael Ravbar said he would be launching a High Court challenge to federal Labor’s legislation forcing the embattled union into administration.

Ravbar said he would be the applicant.

Protesters at Brisbane’s CFMEU rally.Credit: Jono Searle/AAP

“We will be doing a High Court challenge as a matter of urgency, and I’ll be the applicant,” he said.

“This is going to be the biggest challenge and the biggest fight that we’ve ever had but we’re all up for it, you’ve got to get control of your union back, you will never allow a government takeover again.”

The Dolphins are in the midst of an injury crisis ahead of their do-or-die Battle of Brisbane, with a trio of stars racing the clock to take the field.

Prop Tevita Pangai Junior failed to train today in his bid to recover from a hamstring injury, while Max Plath (calf), who has moved from lock to hooker in Jeremy Marshall-King’s absence (foot), and Ray Stone (neck) are also in doubt for Saturday’s clash.

Five-eighth Kodi Nikorima and skipper Jesse Bromwich have already been ruled out with concussion in a squad which has spent much of the year without star enforcers Tom Gilbert (ACL) and Tom Flegler (shoulder).

Both the Dolphins and Broncos – who will be without Reece Walsh (hand), Payne Haas (Lisfranc) and Ezra Mam (syndesmosis) – need to win to remain a finals chance.

“That’s the reality of NRL, some games players pull up sorer than others. We had a meeting this morning and we don’t really know who’s going to be playing,” Dolphins forward Mark Nicholls said.

“Our season is on the line. We are just going to have to wait until Friday to see which team is going to run out.”

A rally placard seen in Brisbane depicting Prime Minister Anthony Albanese as Hitler has drawn the ire of a Melbourne MP, who described the images as “appalling”.

An “Albanazi” placard seen at Brisbane’s CFMEU protest.Credit: Neesha Sinnya

Member for Caulfield David Southwick was asked about the images this morning, and said there was no place for them “anywhere”.

“These images are appalling,” Southwick told reporters.

“I would have that we have police move swiftly on those.

“Let’s get tough and ensure that those kinds of people that want to use imagery that quite frankly, disgusts people, there needs [to be] consequences and action.”

Another placard in Brisbane read: “Thatcher would be proud”.

Two people have been charged with the murder of a 12-year-old girl, who was found unresponsive in a Gold Coast home in 2022.

Emergency services discovered Tiffani Scholten at a Bellagio Crescent property in Coomera on April 18, 2022. She was later declared dead.

Tiffani Scholten was found unresponsive in her home in 2022.Credit: Nine News

Police at the time said the girl suffered from a number of health conditions and detectives appealed to the public for further information as they continued their investigations.

Today, police announced a 37-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman, both known to Tiffani, had been charged with murder, and were scheduled to appear in the Southport Magistrates Court.

“The investigation into the death of this young girl has been one of the most heart-wrenching and complex we’ve had to conduct. From the moment the investigation commenced, our priority has been to seek justice for this innocent child, who was tragically failed by those known to her,” Detective Inspector Paul Fletcher said.

Fletcher said the circumstances of the case had been particularly confronting for officers.

Former Brisbane financial adviser Ben Jayaweera, whose Growth Plus Financial Group is now in liquidation, has been sentenced to 12 years’ jail.

In the District Court this week, Jayaweera was found guilty of 28 fraud offences, costing 12 former clients $5,958,870 in total.

In sentencing, Judge Tony Moynihan KC described Jayaweera’s conduct as “brazen, gross, and callous,” saying his actions were “not only criminal but evil, demonstrating no remorse”.

Jayaweera had previously been found guilty of fraud, and sentenced to 12 years’ jail, but won his appeal in 2022 and was granted a retrial.

Australian Securities and Investments Commission deputy chair Sarah Court said, “ASIC is committed to pursuing criminals who commit serious harm against individuals and act dishonestly”.